Q1: Let’s start with the common question, if you can kindly introduce yourself.
Hello! My name is Christie Gerardi, although some art communities know me as Christie Castiel Designs. At the moment I reside in Massachusetts and I’m currently a freelance digital artist.
Q2: How did you get into the field of your work?
Since a very early age, I’ve always been interested in art and I try to incorporate it into every facet of my life. First and foremost, I’m a traditional artist who has graduated into digital art since discovering several art sites a few years ago. Over the years I’ve had my art displayed and sold at several art conventions in the Boston area, notably Arisia and the Boskone comic book conventions.
Q3: Do you have any current favorite artists, comic artists, photographers who may have influenced you to become the artist that you are?
There are so many artists over the years that have influenced the way I view art that it’s difficult to list just a few, but I’ll try. MichaelO is one of my favorite photographer/digital artist’s to date, his style and color perception take digital art to a whole new level. Also, another influential artist of mine is Donato Giancola, his realism into oil paintings on panel are magnificent. His depiction of mythological, science fiction, and fantasy elements make the viewer transfixed, along with his warm bright color palette and storytelling abilities through art are phenomenal.
Q4: What are the main tools of your trade?
At the moment I currently use CS5 and the Wacom Tablet Intuos, and at times some 3D elements in my work, along with stock imagery. For the most part I do freehand digital work in most of my pieces to achieve that movie poster look that I desire.
Q5: How was it for you to learn the process of that? Did you teach yourself, take classes or learn from other existing artist’s tutorial?
Actually, I’m a self taught traditional and digital artist whose picked up techniques over the years mostly from trial and error. Sometimes they are happy accidents, but I do try to watch online videos to perfect my skills.
Q6: Do you think its possible for you to describe the process of your art style, what are the dos and don’ts, the important aspects you set yourself to achieve your style of design?
I think my particular style is creating a piece to appear more or less like a movie poster. I’m a big fan of the movies and I do work around a model’s image to replicate that effect. Alot of times the final result is much different than I had initially envisioned in my mind. Again, this is where experimenting comes into play. One of my DO’s is to create light and shadow to make the image appear realistic because when an image is pasted in you definitely want it to look like it’s part of the background. My DON’T is NEVER rush on a piece, take your time and figure out what your trying to convey whether it be concept or color design. Good art takes time, and it shows in the final result.
Q7: What are the biggest struggles you encounter as an artist?
I believe that art is an ongoing process and once you learn to accept your own style you then get to express yourself more freely.
Q8: Do you have any other future plans that don’t involve creative art?
On my spare time, I dabble in writing spec scripts, mostly Sci-fi and Psychological thriller. Although I know I’ll never be the next Diablo Cody or Tina Fey, my motto is “It’s better to have tried and failed then to never have never to have tried at all”.
Q9: Do you have any personal mottos, quotes or existing quotes that motivates you to do what you love doing? Can you share it with us or provide words of wisdom from your experiences for those who look up to you?
My personal motto is “Never Give up, Never Surrender”, although it’s a quote from one of my favorite movies “Galaxy Quest” it does hold true to life in general. Another word of wisdom that I may share with others is to never change who you are as a person or artist by imitating someone’s else’s style; it really defeats the purpose, because in the art world you want your true self to shine through. These are my words to live by.
Q10: What do you think the future will hold for all artists from all backgrounds from now?
I believe that art is ever evolving at a very fast pace now due to the digital world that we currently live in, and artists are always expanding in every branch of society, whether it be movies, video games, etc. I hope that art will never go out of style, because it if does the world would be a very dull place.
Q11: To round off the last question, where can your fans and new fans find updated news and progress from you, – Where can we find you? (links mate, websites, include everything that you want people visit you on)
Model Mayhem: http://www.modelmayhem.com/2138649
Redbubble: http://www.redbubble.com/people/prudence13
Website: http://christiecastieldesigns.weebly.com/about.html